1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2
Let another manpraise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3
A stone is heavy, and the sandweighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to standbeforeenvy?
5Openrebuke is better than secretlove.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7
The fullsoulloatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungrysoul every bitter thing is sweet.
8
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9Ointment and perfumerejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by heartycounsel.
10
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11
My son, be wise, and make my heartglad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14
He that blesseth his friend with a loudvoice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15
A continualdropping in a very rainyday and a contentiouswoman are alike.
16
Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
17Ironsharpenethiron; so a mansharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18
Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19
As in waterface answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20Hell and destruction are neverfull; so the eyes of man are neversatisfied.
21
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a manto his praise.
22
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortaramongwheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishnessdepart from him.
23
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and lookwell to thy herds.
24
For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to everygeneration?
25
The hayappeareth, and the tender grasssheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27
And thou shalt have goats' milkenough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.